SHOE
SAVIOR MACHINE
REVIEW BY YOEL KREISLER
STREET PRICE $185.00
Many overdrives have come
and gone through my studio
in the last couple of years.
I like to think that I’ve seen
it all, that everything that
can be done has been done,
and that there is really no
more room for improvement
on what’s essentially a
perfected format. Whether
one likes his or her tones
inspired by the proverbial
“mean greenie” or a
mythical beast, a complete
slew of pedals are available
for them. But what if they
are looking for something
a little different? What if
their tastes extend past the
tried and true overdrive
formulas, and they find
themselves wanting
50
GEAR REVIEW
//
something different?
Usually, a certain word will
set off the lust. “Smooth,”
“gritty,” and “thick” are a
few of descriptors that may
set players off, but for me,
that word is “transparent.”
The Shoe Pedals Savior
Machine is marketed as
such, so naturally, I was
quite excited to dig in
to this dirt pile to see if I
could somehow unearth
the unobtanium that is the
perfect co mplement to my
guitar and amp.
The Shoe Savior Machine
is CJM Venter’s take on
a transparent overdrive
circuit, made for placement
after delays or reverbs
(something that is
Shoe Savior Machine
tantamount to heresy
in some of my circles).
However, this pedal is
made for shoegaze music,
which generally uses a
somewhat odd technique to
add thickness to delays or
reverbs, effectively creating
a “wall of sound” that
defines this genre. While
admittedly I haven’t listened
to as much shoegaze as I
probably should, I can see
how this pedal would do
well in those scenarios. It’s
a bit darker than an average
transparent overdrive, and
lends itself to a different
style and tone.
The pedal has a wonderfully
handmade, boutique
aesthetic that makes it feel